How to Tell If Your Car Has Adaptive Headlights

You can usually tell if your car has adaptive headlights by checking the owner’s manual or window sticker for terms like Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), Dynamic Bending Light, Matrix/Adaptive LED, or Adaptive High-Beam; by looking in the vehicle’s lighting settings; and by observing whether the headlamps swivel or adjust their beam pattern during startup or while turning at night. Below, we explain how to confirm the feature with simple checks, how it differs from auto high-beams, and what brand-specific names to look for.

What “Adaptive Headlights” Means

Adaptive headlights actively change the direction, height, or shape of the beam to improve visibility without dazzling other drivers. Common types include steering-responsive (bending) headlights that swivel into a turn, automatic leveling that compensates for load to keep beams at the right height, and more advanced matrix/adaptive driving beams that can shade out oncoming traffic while keeping high-beam brightness elsewhere. Many modern vehicles also bundle static cornering lights that illuminate the inside of a turn at low speeds.

Quick Ways to Confirm You Have Adaptive Headlights

The following checks will help you determine whether your vehicle is equipped with adaptive headlights using things you can verify at home or in your car’s documentation.

• Owner’s manual and window sticker: Look for terms such as Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS), Dynamic Bending Light, Steering-Responsive Headlights, Cornering Lights, Matrix LED, Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB), or Adaptive High-Beam System (AHS).
• Settings menu: In the infotainment or instrument-cluster settings, look under Lighting. Options like AFS, Dynamic Bending, Cornering Lights, Matrix/Adaptive High-Beam, or “Headlight leveling — automatic” indicate adaptive capability.
• Startup self-check: At engine start in a dark garage, many adaptive systems briefly sweep up/down and sometimes left/right. You can watch the beam pattern move against a wall.
• On-road behavior: At night on a curvy road, the light should pivot into the bend (bending lights) or change shape and brightness dynamically (matrix). Static cornering lights turn on a side lamp at low speeds with steering or signal input.
• Instrument icons: Some cars show “AFS OFF” or a headlamp icon with curved arrows when the system is active/faulted. Note that a headlamp icon with an “A” typically means Auto High-Beam, which is not the same as bending or matrix headlights.
• Hardware cues: Projector-style lamps with visible stepper-motor housings, segmented LED arrays (multiple small LED squares), or dedicated cornering lamps suggest adaptive features. A forward camera near the rear-view mirror often supports adaptive high-beam/matrix systems.
• VIN/build sheet lookup: Enter your VIN in the automaker’s owner portal, connected app, or a dealer’s parts/feature lookup to see the exact lighting package. Look for option codes referencing AFS, Matrix, ADB, or “premium/adaptive” lighting.
• Regional notes: In the U.S., full adaptive driving beam (matrix high-beam) became legal in 2022 and is appearing on many 2023+ models; earlier U.S. cars may have bending lights but not matrix. Canada, Europe, and other regions have offered matrix systems for years.

If two or more of these checks point to adaptive capability, your car likely has it; the VIN/build sheet and manual provide the most definitive confirmation.

How to Test Safely

These practical tests can help you observe adaptive behavior without special tools. Conduct them safely and consider a helper or controlled environment.

1. Wall test at night: Park 6–10 feet from a flat wall on level ground. Start the car with headlights on. Look for the beam to rise/fall slightly and, on some systems, sweep left/right during the self-check.
2. Low-speed cornering: In an empty parking lot, turn the wheel sharply with headlights on. Static cornering lights will illuminate to the inside of the turn; bending lights may pivot slightly.
3. Curvy-road drive: On an unlit, low-traffic road, observe whether the beam follows the curve (bending) or if high-beam areas remain bright while areas with oncoming cars dim or “shadow” (matrix/ADB). Always prioritize safety and avoid testing around other drivers if unsure.
4. Settings toggle: If your menu has AFS or Adaptive High-Beam switches, toggle them and note any changes in behavior or dashboard messages.

If the beam never pivots or changes shape and no settings exist, you likely have conventional lights or only auto high-beam/auto-leveling.

Don’t Confuse These Features

Because lighting terms can overlap, here are common features that are related but not identical to adaptive headlights, and how to tell them apart.

• Auto High-Beam (AHB/HBA): Automatically switches between low and high beams. It does not steer or reshape the beam. Icon often shows a headlamp with an “A.”
• Auto-Leveling: Adjusts vertical aim based on load to prevent glare. It doesn’t follow curves; it just keeps the beam height consistent.
• Static Cornering Lights: Separate lamps that come on at low speed with steering angle or turn signals to light the inside of a turn; the main beam doesn’t swivel.
• Fog Lights: Low-mounted lamps for poor weather; not adaptive steering or matrix functions.

True adaptive systems either steer the beam with the road, automatically level in real time, or segment the beam to maintain visibility without glare — some cars combine all three.

Brand and Terminology Guide

Automakers use different names for similar technology. This guide offers common labels you might see in manuals, menus, or marketing.

• Audi: Adaptive Light, Matrix LED, HD Matrix, Digital Matrix (projected symbols in select markets)
• BMW: Adaptive Headlights, Adaptive LED, Icon/Lasers with adaptive functions
• Mercedes-Benz: Intelligent Light System (ILS), MULTIBEAM LED, Digital Light
• Toyota/Lexus: AHB (Auto High-Beam), AHS (Adaptive High-beam System), AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System)
• Mazda: AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting), ALH (Adaptive LED Headlights)
• Volkswagen/Audi Group: AFS, Dynamic Cornering Light, IQ.Light (matrix)
• Volvo: Active Bending Lights, Active High Beam/Pixel LED
• Hyundai/Kia/Genesis: Adaptive Front Lighting, High Beam Assist, Matrix/Projection LEDs on select models
• Subaru: Steering Responsive Headlights, High Beam Assist
• GM (Chevrolet/GMC/Cadillac/Buick): IntelliBeam (auto high-beam), Adaptive Headlamps/Matrix on newer models
• Ford/Lincoln: Adaptive Front Lighting, Auto High-Beam, Pixel/Matrix on newer models
• Porsche: PDLS/PDLS+ (Porsche Dynamic Light System)
• Jaguar Land Rover: Adaptive Front Lighting, Pixel LED

If your car lists any of these feature names, it likely includes adaptive capability; consult the manual to learn exactly which type you have.

Where to Find Definitive Documentation

If your initial checks are inconclusive, these sources typically offer authoritative confirmation of the exact lighting package installed on your vehicle.

• Owner’s manual PDF: Use the search function for “adaptive,” “AFS,” “bending,” “matrix,” or “headlight.”
• Monroney/window sticker: Look for lighting options in the Exterior/Lights section.
• VIN/build sheet: Accessible via the automaker’s owner portal, connected app, or dealer; it lists option codes and packages.
• Service/parts catalog: Dealer parts departments can decode your VIN and list the headlamp assemblies installed.
• Automaker apps/telematics: Many show installed equipment and package names when you add your VIN.

These references not only confirm presence but also specify capabilities, such as whether you have bending lights, matrix high-beams, or both.

Troubleshooting and Caveats

Before concluding your car lacks adaptive headlights, consider these common pitfalls and how to address them.

• Disabled in settings: Some vehicles allow turning AFS or cornering lights off. Look for an “AFS OFF” indicator or a toggle in lighting settings.
• Regional limitations: U.S.-spec versions of some models before 2023 may lack matrix functions present in EU/Canada versions.
• Aftermarket retrofits: Replacing bulbs or housings rarely adds true adaptive behavior; factory systems need motors, sensors, and software.
• Faults and warnings: A malfunction may freeze the beam in a default position and illuminate a warning. A scan with an OEM-capable tool can confirm.
• Weather and speed thresholds: Some systems only engage above certain speeds or may reduce function in heavy rain/snow or when the camera is obscured.

If behavior seems inconsistent, verify settings, clean sensors and the windshield near the camera, and check for diagnostic messages before seeking service.

Safety Notes

When testing at night, use empty roads or closed areas, obey local laws, and avoid creating glare for other drivers. Never stare directly into headlamps while close to a wall; observe the pattern indirectly.

Bottom Line

To tell if your car has adaptive headlights, start with the manual, window sticker, or VIN build sheet; check lighting settings; and watch for beam movement at startup or while cornering at night. Distinguish adaptive features from auto high-beam and static cornering lights, and remember that naming varies by brand and region.

Summary

Most cars with adaptive headlights will advertise AFS, Dynamic Bending, Matrix/Adaptive LED, or ADB in documentation or menus. Visual tests — a startup sweep against a wall and beam movement on curves — offer quick confirmation. If in doubt, a VIN/build sheet lookup or dealer parts inquiry will definitively identify the lighting system your vehicle carries.

How do I find out what type of headlights my car has?

Application. So right off the bat let’s start with the beam pattern the beam pattern colors tend to vary from different. Options turn on your headlights. Pull up to a garage door and just check it out

Which car has adaptive headlights?

Curve-adaptive headlights pivot in the direction the car travels to provide illumination on dark, winding roads. This feature is available in cars from luxury brands like Tesla and BMW, as well as mainstream brands like Mazda and Subaru.

How do I know if my car has adaptive headlights?

To tell if your car has adaptive headlights, visually inspect the headlight assembly for a specific “circular” or distinct light component, look for sensors near the windshield or grille, check the owner’s manual, or perform a test drive at night to see if the lights move or adjust their beam pattern. You can also look for a specific button on the steering column or check the vehicle’s menu for an option to enable adaptive headlights. 
Look for Visual Clues

• Specific LED Components: Opens in new tabMany cars with adaptive headlights, such as some Teslas, have a unique circular or distinct light element within the headlight assembly. 
• Sensors: Opens in new tabCheck for small sensors mounted near the windshield or at the front grille. These are crucial for the adaptive system to gather information about the vehicle’s surroundings and speed. 
• Headlight Assembly Markings: Opens in new tabSome manufacturers place an icon or text denoting the adaptive system directly on the headlight lens itself. 

Test the System

• Startup Test: Turn on your car in a dark area and watch the headlights. If they perform a brief “leveling” or directional movement when the car starts, this is a strong indicator of an adaptive system. 
• Steering Wheel Test: In a safe area at night, face a wall and turn the steering wheel. Your headlights should pivot left or right, following the direction of the wheel. 
• Driving Test: On a dark road, observe your headlights while driving. You should notice the beams of light changing their angle or position as you steer or when you encounter other vehicles, improving visibility around curves. 

Consult Your Vehicle’s Documentation

• Owner’s Manual: Your car’s owner’s manual will have definitive information about its features, including a description of adaptive headlights. 
• Vehicle Specifications: Check your car’s specifications or original order sheet, which will list whether the adaptive headlight system was included. 

Check Vehicle Settings 

• On-board Computer: If your car is equipped with adaptive headlights and the feature is enabled, it may be listed in the vehicle’s settings menu. 
• Steering Column Controls: Some vehicles have a split button or a specific control on the left steering column stalk to activate adaptive lighting functions. 

How do you activate adaptive headlights?

But then I still get more light in view overall as opposed to the auto brights being toggled on and off. And what this is also going to do is it’s going to adjust the headlights for curves.